Key board



May 10, 1938. B. E. WALBERG KEY BOARD Filed Jan. 28, 1937 Java/857w Patented May 10, 1938 2,116,808

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY BOARD Bernard E. Walberg, Worcester, Mass.

Application January 28, 1937, Serial No. 122,750

6 Claims. (Cl. 84467) The principal objects of this invention are to as shown in Fig. 3. During the entire operation reduce materially the expense of manufacture and at all times, when it is desired to practice, a set of finger practice keys; to provide all the this eccentric is up, as shown in Fig. 2, and per- I'eatures necessary for piano practice, and to proforms the same function as the rest 29. The vide a construction in which the black keys and black keys are shaped in the same way and come 5 also the White keys can be removed. It can be into position to engage the eccentric 2|. Thereused for mute finger practice boards or for a fore, they can be turned up as shown in Fig. 3

piano key board. and removed very easily.

Other objects and advantages of the inven- The advantage of this form of mute practice tion will appear hereinafter. board is the fact that there are no metallic springs 10 Reference is to be had to the accompanying and a minimum of construction so that the exdrawing, in which pense of manufacture and installation is very Fig. 1 is a plan of a bank of keys set up in mute much reduced. form for finger practice; In the form shown in Fig. 5 the casing is shown Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of as having the parts H), II, l2 and i3 as before. 15 Fig. 1; On the base I0 is a rigid strip 2| carrying a cylin- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the drical pivot rod 22 which extends from end to end. removal of the white key; The black and white keys are pivoted on this,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing one of the having notches in their bottoms for that purpose. white keys in elevation and illustrating another The spring is in the form of a sponge rubber strip 2 form in which the invention can be made, and 23 located on the bottom of the top l2 back of the 0 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modirod 22. The top l2 has a downwardly extending fication. flange 24 so that the keys cannot be detached The instrument can be made long enough for accidentally, but they are removable, of course. any number of octaves, as may be desired. A The removable key feature is one of the prin- 5 case is shown having a base Ill, a back H, a top cipal points of the keyboard. The keys are to be l2 and ends l3, all these parts being fixed toassembled by the child as an aid in visualizing gether. Along the top of the base extends a the piano key board. There will be a chart to spring M which preferably is continuous from end guide him and as he assembles the keys he learns to end and yields vertically at any point on which what the keys are called. Notation is pictured 30 pressure is applied. This is shown as made of a on the chart so that he learns notation through single piece of sponge rubber of rectangular shape. association. This key board used in connection Through the case, from end to end, just under with the piano (with tone) will be the principal the top l2 extends a cylindrical metal rod l5. instrument as this enables the child to produce This is located back of the sponge rubber spring tones after the keys have been installed. There- 35 and constitutes a pivot for all of the keys. The fore, the invention can be applied to a piano to white keys l6 are all formed with a semi-circular be used for practice. notch l1 fitting the bottom of the rod 15 so that Having thus described my invention and the the rod constitutes the pivot for these keys. The advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to .1 black keys l8 are also provided with similar semithe details herein disclosed, otherwise than as circular notches and both sets of keys have proset forth in the claims, but what I claim is: jecting ends l9 and are flat on the bottom. 1. As an article of manufacture, a piano finger In the case of the white keys shown in the modipractice board comprising black and white keys, fication of Fig. 4 a solid piece of wood 29 is placed a continuous spring yielding downwardly on which under the ends of the white keys at a point back said keys rest, and means for pivotally holding the 45 of the pivot point. This key rests, therefore, on keys at the top thereof. the spring l4 and can be depressed about its pivot 2. As an article of manufacture, a mute pracwithout disturbing anything, but it cannot be tice board for piano finger practice comprising a removed from the instrument without drawing casing, black and white keys thereon and a yield- 5 out the rod l5. able spring extending under all the keys and on 5 In the preferred construction a rest 2! for a which all the keys rest, a pivot rod engaging all similar purpose as the rest 20 extends across the the keys at the top, said keys having notches in whole bank of keys and is eccentric. This eccentheir upper surfaces for receiving said rod and tric can be turned by a handle 23 so as to lower restricting the keys to a pivotal motion. the eccentric and allow the keys to be removed, 3. As an article of manufacture, a mute prac- 55 tice board for piano finger practice comprising the usual white keys and black keys, a continuous spring throughout the length of the board on the top of which each one of the said keys bears and which spring is yieldable downwardly, and a rod extending along the board to serve as a pivot for the keys, each key having a semi-circular notch in the top fitting said rod.

4. As an article of manufacture, a key board comprising a casing having a top board at the rear extending only a slight distance forward, a cylindrical rod extending throughout the length of said board, a sponge rubber spring extending throughout the length of the board, and forward of said rod, each key having a semi-circular notch in the edge to form a pivot therefor.

5. As an article of manufacture, a piano practice board comprising a casing having a top board at the rear extending only a slight distance forward, a cylindrical rod extending throughout the length of said board under the front thereof, a

sponge rubber spring extending throughout the length of the board at the bottom thereof, and forward of said rod, on which the keys rest, each key having a semi-circular notch in the top to form a pivot therefor, and means in the rear of the board for engaging the bottom of said keys to hold the keys in place.

6. As an article of manufacture, a key board comprising a casing having a top board at the rear extending only a slight distance forward, a cylindrical pivot rod extending throughout the length of the board at the bottom thereof, forward of said rod, on which the keys rest, each key having a semi-circular notch in the top to form a pivot therefor about the rod, means in the rear of the board for engaging the bottom of said keys to hold the keys in place, said means consisting of an eccentric rest, and a handle connected with the rest for turning it to release the keys and allow them to be removed.

BERNARD E. WALBERG. 

